Chapter 461: Eight V Eight

Chapter 461: Eight V Eight



***

Purple's words didn't ring true.

His so-called "friends," the hunter group leaders, weren't anywhere near defeat.

In fact, they were dominating the battle.

After the initial clash, the ambushers split them apart, each singling out a target within the group.

Like the plan Templar enacted against the students, it was clear they had planned this ambush for a long time, as-except for Aquila-each attacker's Specialization was the same as their chosen opponent.

What followed were eight intense duels, scattered across the main station, each clash shaking the ruin.

No more than ten minutes had passed since the battle began, but in that short span, they had exchanged over a thousand strikes.

Now, the duels seemed to be nearing their conclusion, and Aquila appeared to be the closest.

As she had since the beginning of their duel, the Blade Dancer stuck first, lunging forward with her twin blades.

Aquila dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the slash.

In the same breath, he drew his Celestia's Revolver from thin air, locked on his opponent.

He then retaliated with a quick shot, but the Blade Dancer deflected the bullet with a flick of her blades.

The impact sent a shockwave through the air, pushing her back tens of meters.

It was obvious that the impact affected her if one judged her slightly trembling arms, but she didn't relent.

Closing the distance in an instant, her blades whirled in a Blurred Dance.

Aquila saw through her movements, dodging both blades.

She didn't miss a beat-her blades, which arced toward the ground, suddenly spun back up as she stepped forward while contorting her body.

This time, her attack was too fast.

Aquila couldn't avoid it and was forced to deflect with his revolver, metal clashing against concentrated Aether.

Taking advantage of the moment, he kicked out with his left leg, aiming for her midsection. But the Blade Dancer reacted swiftly, leaping back just in time to dodge the blow.

Aquila used that distance to his advantage and fired again, this time aiming for the Blade Dancer's leg.

He was certain that his bullet would land, as she was currently in a compromised position, yet she remained untouched, again.

She had twisted mid-air, her body bending impossibly as she evaded the bullet.

Then, the moment her foot touched the ground, she vanished, reappearing in front of him with her blades slicing toward his throat.

Aquila ducked under the attack, rolling to the side as her weapons slashed through empty space.

He, though in an awkward position, didn't waste a moment and quickly fired another shot, but the Blade Dancer was already gone.

She reappeared behind him, her blades descending like twin vipers.

Aquila spun around just in time, blocking the strike with the barrel of his revolver.

The force of the clash echoed, and he shoved her back, creating some much-needed distance between them.

However, instead of retreating like he did in all their previous clashes, he closed the gap in a heartbeat and pulled the trigger at point-blank range.

The Blade Dancer's eyes widened in obvious surprise, not expecting such an uncharacteristic move, but she quickly got back her focus and managed to tilt her head just enough for the bullet to graze her cheek.

Blood flew, but the injury only seemed to fuel her ferocity.

"YOU WILL JOIN MY BROTHERHOOD IN THE GRAVE!"

She countered with a flurry of slashes, her blades a silver blur.

Aquila weaved between them, his revolver raised, looking for the briefest of openings.

attack.

Contrary to what she thought, this moment was what Aquila was waiting for.

His plan demanded it.

As she vanished from view, he dropped onto his back, timing the dodge perfectly.

Yet even as his body was parallel to the ground, her blades still came within inches of slashing

his throat.

Incredibly close wasn't enough, however.

At that moment, she subconsciously knew that she had lost.

How or why? She didn't know. It was instinct.

CRASH!

The Blade Dancer smashed into the wall behind Aquila with a force that shook the ruin.

And then, as her eyes turned to him, she realized...

"...No."

She realized how death would claim her.

Before his back could hit the ground, Aquila had already aimed his revolver squarely at her

head.

Even though he was upside down, his aim was not a moment slower than his best.

"Flareshot."

His finger tightened on the trigger.

BANG!

The final shot rang out, echoing in the air, and the Blade Dancer's body violently jerked as the

bullet pierced the back of her head, her eyes wide with shock.

"No... I-"

She crumpled to the ground, her blades falling from her hands.

The duel was over.

Aquila lowered his revolver and it dissipated back into Aether.

He glanced down at the fallen Blade Dancer and then turned away.

Ten seconds.

Twenty clashes.

The fight ended just as he revealed his trump card.

Celestia's Revolver.

It required a lot of Aether to use, but it more than made up for it with its infinite ammo,

unmatched accuracy, and firepower.

As long as one had the Aether required, the opponent would fall, no matter who it was.

"Well... it's time to move."

Aquila looked at where the nearest sound of battle originated and headed there, his steps

slow.